Dynamic Resource Allocation in Autonomous Vehicles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Autonomous vehicles face latency issues in processing sensor and communication data, which can lead to accidents due to insufficient onboard resources, and existing systems do not effectively utilize available non-critical resources for passenger activities during travel.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method that identifies and provisions available non-critical resources within autonomous vehicles, allowing passengers to access software and hardware configurations, such as resource stacks, for activities like work or entertainment by determining resource availability through sensor monitoring and API communication, and dynamically reallocating resources between vehicles as needed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If autonomous vehicles allocate sufficient onboard resources for sensor and communication data processing, then response latency is reduced and safety is improved, but available resources for passenger activities are depleted

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidresource availability for passenger activities

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts resource allocation between critical autonomous vehicle functions and passenger activities based on real-time operational conditions. When the vehicle operates in normal conditions, non-critical resources are made available for passenger activities. When safety-critical situations arise, resources are automatically reallocated to maintain reliable autonomous operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameters of computing resources by categorizing them as critical or non-critical and adjusting their availability status based on system state. This allows the same physical resources to serve different functions at different times, resolving the contradiction between maintaining safety and providing passenger services.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Speed

If autonomous vehicles dedicate all onboard resources to critical operations, then response time is improved, but resource utilization efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse timeVSAvoidresource utilization efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments computing resources into critical and non-critical categories, allowing critical resources to be dedicated to safety functions for fast response while non-critical resources can be utilized for passenger activities. This segmentation enables simultaneous optimization of response time and resource utilization efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system maintains continuous useful action by keeping non-critical resources available for passenger activities during normal operation, thereby improving overall resource utilization efficiency without compromising critical response times. The resources remain productive rather than idle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Ease of operation

If autonomous vehicles provide comprehensive resource access to passengers, then passenger experience is enhanced, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepassenger experienceVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces an intermediary resource management layer that handles the complexity of resource allocation, authentication, and monitoring. This intermediary manages resource requests from passengers, ensures safety requirements are met, and coordinates with the autonomous vehicle system, thereby enhancing passenger experience without exposing them to the underlying system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Productivity

If autonomous vehicles monitor and manage resource availability in real-time, then resource allocation efficiency is improved, but processing overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource allocation efficiencyVSAvoidprocessing overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial monitoring by focusing only on non-critical resources that are available after critical functions are satisfied. Rather than monitoring all resources comprehensively, the system monitors only the portion that can be safely allocated to passenger activities, reducing processing overhead while maintaining allocation efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS20240168806A1Sharing of available resources of autonomous vehicles

Publication Date: 2024.05.23 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

A computer-implemented method for sharing of non-critical resources of autonomous vehicles. The method identifies available non-critical resources of autonomous vehicles by a communicative connection. The method receives a request from a computing device of a requesting user for travel in an autonomous vehicle and for use of the available non-critical resources, wherein the request is received. The method determines the autonomous vehicles having the non-critical resources available to fulfill the request and presents to the requesting user information regarding the available resources. The method receives a selection of a set of the available non-critical resources and generates a resource stack configuration from the selected set of available non-critical resources, and the method grants access to the generated resource stack configuration.